Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 773 (1): A Prelude

As the light cavalry pushed northward, it only took a few days before they entered the Grassland corridor.

Only now did it become evident that while the Great Han Empire had been rigorously preparing for war, Timur had not been idle either. This was not a one-sided ambush; it was a premeditated decisive battle for both sides.

While the Han army had been strengthening itself, Timur had chosen a different strategy, one akin to striking with a Seven Injuries Fist[1], sacrificing his own strength to inflict greater damage on the enemy.

According to the tribesmen serving as guides, every settlement along the route that could have provided supplies had already been preemptively evacuated. The tents were empty, the pastures abandoned, and even the water sources had been contaminated.

This operation had clearly taken considerable time and effort. Timur had resolved to deny the Han army any chance of living off the land.

Xue Canghai was deeply disappointed.

Zhao Changhe and the others exchanged glances, struggling to comprehend how Timur had managed to concentrate such a vast barbarian population in one place. How were they even sustaining themselves? How could their herding practices function under such constraints? If this stalemate dragged on, would the entire Grasslands collapse under its own logistical strain?

In theory, if they simply found a place to fortify and held their ground, they might just wait out Timur’s forces as they imploded under their own pressure.

But that was only in theory. Their side had the advantage of storage boxes, an almost unfair logistical superiority. And if they had such an advantage, who was to say Timur did not have his own cheats? Warfare had already evolved beyond conventional tactics, so falling into old patterns of thinking could mean defeat.

And as the two armies drew ever closer, the first round of the “divine war” had already begun, long before the ordinary soldiers even realized it.

Zhao Changhe had spent relentless hours in the subterranean sky, honing his perception. Now, even without relying on the false firmament beneath the Imperial Ancestral Temple, his Overlooking Eye had expanded its range immensely, far surpassing what he could see when he had first broken into the Profound Control Realm. Calling it a “thousand-li gaze” would be an exaggeration... but only slightly. The difference was nearly imperceptible.

Vermillion Bird had also been honing her perception, using the omnipresent fire element to extend her awareness. However, despite being at the late stage of the first layer of the Profound Control Realm, her sensing range was still inferior to that of Zhao Changhe, who had only recently reached the middle of the first layer. More importantly, what she could merely perceive, Zhao Changhe could see, a fundamental difference in ability.

This evolution of his vision, advancing from the Back Eye to the Overlooking Eye, had become increasingly impactful at this level. What once was merely an edge in personal combat had now become a battlefield-wide advantage, offering glimpses of what a second or even third-layer Profound Control Realm figure might perceive. More than anything, this vision granted him a significant lead in future breakthroughs, as he was essentially experiencing those higher levels in advance.

And in the context of this war, it meant that the area Zhao Changhe could see was nearly identical to what Timur, who was standing at the peak of the first layer, could perceive. If Timur could see them, then Zhao Changhe could see him.

In this “fog of war,” neither side would hold the advantage.

And then... came the first direct clash.

Late at night, Zhao Changhe was sitting cross-legged inside his tent, his consciousness stretching outward and extending westward, searching for movement in the distance.

Gradually, at the very edges of his expanded awareness, resistance began to build. A faint, stabbing pain started to creep into his mind.

Zhao Changhe’s heart stirred.

At that very moment, it became clear that Timur or Bo’e was also watching. Their divine senses stretched across the battlefield, and at the midpoint, the edges of their awareness met.

Bo’e had fought Zhao Changhe before and would have recognized his presence instantly. But this time, the sensation was unfamiliar, which meant that this was Timur.

This was Zhao Changhe and Timur’s first true confrontation.

Crack~

Like ripples in water colliding and breaking apart, the edges of their divine senses recoiled from one another, both experiencing a slight sting.

Where one could see, one was also present.

In the next instant, two spectral forms appeared in the night sky at the very point of collision, facing each other just a single pace away from one another.

Timur gazed at Zhao Changhe’s projection before him, a flicker of admiration surfacing in his eyes. “Blood Asura, you never cease to impress... You’ve only recently broken into the Profound Control Realm, and yet the strength of your divine soul has already reached a level comparable to mine. Truly impressive. It explains your habit of constantly challenging those above your level along your journey.”

Zhao Changhe chuckled, then replied as if chatting with an old acquaintance, “If I couldn’t even manage this much, there’d be no point in fighting this war. Speaking of which, there was something about past battles that always puzzled me. Only now do I finally understand. I always wondered why you didn’t personally scale the walls and open a path forward back when your forces stood before Yanmen Pass... Heh, Old Xia’s divine sense must have been fixed on you the entire time, and you simply didn’t dare charge forward.”

Timur made no effort to deny it. “Correct. Xia Longyuan was keeping me in check, just as our god was watching him, preventing him from making any reckless moves. That is the nature of confrontations between those at the Profound Control Realm. We cancel each other out, ensuring that mortal wars remain within the realm of human conflicts. Should we step in personally and something goes wrong... the consequence is not just the death of one, but the annihilation of thousands, tens of thousands even.”

Zhao Changhe nodded. “I see. A valuable lesson.”

Timur’s tone remained indifferent as he said, “But you already knew that yourself. So tell me, Blood Asura, or maybe I should call you the newly anointed Night Emperor? The guardian god of the Great Han Empire? Whatever it is that you are... Why have you personally led an army into my lands?”

“Because unlike Old Xia, I’m not strong enough yet. If I didn’t come personally, we’d stand no chance. After all, I wouldn’t be able to exert any deterrent force on you.” Zhao Changhe’s expression was cold. “Besides, both you and I know the truth. The gods and demons of antiquity are awakening everywhere. The old rules are collapsing. It’s time we create new ones.”

Timur’s gaze sharpened. “And what exactly are these new rules you speak of?”

“One does not allow others to snore beside one’s bed,” said Zhao Changhe with a calm and resolute voice. “I have no interest in suppressing, restraining, or deterring whatever deity. I simply want to erase it from existence.”

For a brief moment, Timur was stunned. Then, he burst into laughter. “Hahaha! Good, good. Even Xia Longyuan didn’t dare to strike directly at the Divine Temple, yet you actually dare?”

“Because Old Xia only had himself.” Zhao Changhe’s gaze remained steady. Then, his voice deepened, each word carrying the weight of an entire empire: “But I... I have the boundless rivers and mountains behind me to protect.”

As Timur’s laughter clashed with Zhao Changhe’s response, ripples seemed to form in the air, colliding against each other before dissipating, each side experiencing a slight tremor.

Zhao Changhe suffered a minor setback; his divine sense retreated slightly, but only just so. There was no significant difference between them.

Both projections showed faint expressions of pain and discomfort. The direct clash of souls was an excruciating experience; even at their level, a soul was fragile and easily damaged, especially when clashing against another soul.

With mutual apprehension, neither side pressed further. In silent agreement, they withdrew their divine senses, returning to themselves.

Zhao Changhe opened his eyes.

Sitting cross-legged before him, Yue Hongling noticed his reaction and asked, “Did you make contact?”

Zhao Changhe nodded. “A brief probing exchange. It likely served as a warning for both of us... Expanding one’s divine sense like this isn’t something either side would dare to do often. Once we get closer, close enough for even your divine senses to reach him, things change. If he tries to come at us, he’ll be walking straight into an ambush. Likewise, if I reach out too far, I don’t know if Bo’e is also stationed in their camp, and I might be the one getting swarmed. Best to use this ability sparingly.”

Yue Hongling mused, “So it comes down to two possibilities: either both sides avoid probing with divine sense and rely on the conventional warfare of scouts and reconnaissance; or, we fully separate the battle of cultivators from that of mortals and engage in an all-out confrontation between those at the Profound Control Realm.”

“More or less, yeah.”

As a swordswoman accustomed to traveling alone, Yue Hongling was not versed in the larger tactical aspects of warfare. She could not help but ask, “But if the outcome of the battle between those at the Profound Control Realm determines everything, then what’s the point of all this costly and exhausting war among mortals?”

“If Profound Control Realm fights could be decided quickly, that would be one thing. But based on past experience, killing an opponent at this level is extremely difficult. The far more likely outcome is a prolonged deadlock, or even getting trapped within some secret realm. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of barbarian riders could storm south, leaving the empire in ruins. What use is our victory then, if we emerge only to find our homeland destroyed? Our battle exists to protect the divine land. While we handle the enemy’s Profound Control Realm cultivators, our soldiers must contend with the barbarian cavalry. It’s simply a matter of different responsibilities.”

Yue Hongling gave a slight nod. “Understood.”

Zhao Changhe continued, “Also, in truth, if our lands fall to ruin, we will lose our battle as well. Much of the strength that I, Qing’er, and Lady Three wield today is supported by the qi veins of the mountains and rivers and the power of faith. If the nation falls into chaos and its people lose faith, we might not suffer a drastic regression like Old Xia, but our strength would certainly decline. He was indeed an extreme example, but the principle applies across the board. You’re the only exception among us.”

“Not entirely,” Yue Hongling murmured. “If such a thing were to happen, my sword heart might falter as well... My sword intent has been deeply influenced by you.”

“Uh...”

Yue Hongling then asked, “Would the barbarian god face the same constraints?”

“I don’t know if he will be affected by the failure of the war of mortals, but I am certain that if he wants to advance further, he must win it,” Zhao Changhe said. “From what we know so far, apart from Jiuyou’s faction, which thrives on pure chaos, most others, such as the Sea Emperor, the Dao Lord, the Buddhist Patriarch[2], and Tngri, rely on the qi veins and faith of the mortal realm. This makes the conflict resemble a religious war, a struggle for the fate of humanity itself. That’s also why the northern barbarians frequently invaded even when Old Xia was still around. The forces of the mortal realm directly affect the rise and fall of cultivation on both sides.”

1. This is a reference to a technique of the Kongtong Sect in The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber by Jin Yong. ☜

2. The term used here refers to Sakyamuni Buddha. ☜